raise min gain on a distortion pedal?

[TimWaldvogel]

i am curious about how this works. i cant seem to find anything on the web  thats helps...
i am curious how to raise the minimum gain of a distortion effect for instance the dod overdrive 250 or mxr distortion plus. i notcied when i roll back the volume knob it goes to completely clean to major distortion. i think its cause i am using linear taper. but i am curious if you can raise the minimum distortion

[dschwartz]

make the pot smaller value..if what you want is more distortion when the gain pot is at minimum..

[TimWaldvogel]

oooook ok i think i get it . like for instance if i want the distortion to go from cleanish to max of the pedal i could use a 1 meg, but if i wanted something to go from mild distortion to the max of the pedal i could use a 100k or even a 50k?

[dschwartz]

yup, those kind of distortions has its max gain when the pot is at 0 resistance, and the min gain is defined by the max resistance of the pot, so yeah..try different values until you find what you want

[zyxwyvu]

If you're using a linear taper potentiometer, I would keep the pot, and add a parallel resistor. You'll not only increase the minimum gain, you'll improve the feel of the control. The gain control on those pedals is inherently reverse-log, and the parallel resistor with the potentiometer will get you closer to that.

[TimWaldvogel]

so from the wire that leads to lug 3 on the linear taper pot i should just put a resisitor there? any recommended values?

[TimWaldvogel]

im sorry you said parallel so like from the two connect lugs on the linear taper?

[Mark Hammer]

I would strongly recommend reading the back issues of DEVICE posted here: http://hammer.ampage.org/?cmd=lt&xid=&fid=&ex=&pg=11  and here: http://hammer.ampage.org/?cmd=lt&xid=&fid=&ex=&pg=12

That should explain what you need to know.

[zyxwyvu]

im sorry you said parallel so like from the two connect lugs on the linear taper?

Yes, if I understand you correctly. The resistor should go across the two lugs of the pot that are connected to the circuit.